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How to Shave Off a Beard

So, you’ve grown a bit tired of the fuzzy face and have decided to take the plunge and shave off the hipster beard.
Sounds simple -- just lather up the beard and shave it off! Wait a
minute. It’s not as easy as it seems. To properly shave a beard and make
sure you don’t leave your face an irritated mess, it’s important to do
it the right way. Follow these easy steps to shave off your beard the
right way.

1) Choose a Good Time.Any time is
appropriate for shaving a beard, right? Nope. If it’s been awhile since
you’ve had a beard, the skin under the beard may be a bit lighter than
the skin on the rest of your face. Nothing quite as embarrassing as
showing up with the white silhouette of a beard on your face. Your skin
may also be a bit more sensitive since it hasn’t been shaved in awhile.
This can lead to razor burn or ingrown hairs. It’s best to shave the beard at the start of the weekend so you give your skin a few days to adapt and get some color.

This will also give you a chance to get used to
your new look before you reveal it to your friends and co-workers and
show off your newly shaven face with confidence!

2) Buzz It Down.Before
you shave your beard, it’s best to mow it down as closely as possible
with a beard trimmer or set of clippers. Trying to shave a full beard
with a razor can be difficult and time consuming. If you don’t have a
set of clippers, go have your local barber buzz it off for you. Better
yet, take this opportunity to treat yourself to a professional shave and
let the barber give you a full hot-lather face shave. This is certainly
one of the best things a guy can do for himself and I recommend having
it done frequently. Hey, women can get manicures, pedicures, and facials
on a regular basis, so why can’t we treat ourselves to a little
pampering once in awhile. Once you have the beard cut down nice and
close, you can then shave it off using proper shaving techniques.

3) Shave.It’s always best to shave at the end of a shower to soften the beard and open the pores. Use a high quality shaving cream
and sharp razor. Lather the face and, using your free hand, stretch the
skin tight. Shave carefully with the grain (the direction of the hair
growth). Rinse the face and visually check for any rough spots -- if
everything looks smooth, stop. If you need to touch up any
spots, apply some additional lather and shave with the grain. Since it’s
been awhile since you’ve shaved, avoid shaving against the grain and
trying to get too close. Once you’ve finished, rinse the face with a
splash of cool water to close the pores.

4) Moisturize.This
is critical even if you’re not shaving the beard. Always use a good
after-shave moisturizer to promote healing and moisturize the skin.
Using a moisturizer with a built-in SPF is also a great idea to help protect your skin from the sun.

The
beauty of facial hair is that it is a quick and inexpensive way to
change up your look and keep it fresh. If, after you’ve shaved your
beard, you decide that you prefer a little facial hair, you can always grow your beard back. If you do, I recommend making sure you choose the right beard for your face shape and then grown something back that’s a little different than the beard you had. Take a look at our men’s facial hair galleries for some inspiration on your next venture into the world of the bearded.